81' Substitution

Chelsea are flying high at the top of The Premiership but they will have a fight on their hands to stay there, judged on Arsenal's performance on Boxing Day.

The Gunners never gave Fulham a chance to get a foothold in the game and goals from Thierry Henry and Robert Pires downed The Cottagers.

Arsenal approached the game with a real spring in their step, with Pires finding space in the middle of the park, but the final ball was lacking in the early moments. At the other end, Andy Cole and Tomasz Radzinski were willing runners for Chris Coleman, but there was little service from an overworked midfield.

Arsenal's hunger to win the ball reaped dividends on 12 minutes, as Fulham were forced to concede possession and Pires and the returning Fredrik Ljungberg combined to send in Henry for the opener.

Henry still had plenty to do when sent scampering into the left of the box, but his quick feet prompted Ian Pearce to dive in and slide beyond the Frenchman. Once faced with just Edwin van der Sar, there was only likely to be one outcome and so it proved as Henry rolled the ball into the far corner.

As if they needed it, Arsenal took great confidence from the goal and continued to carve out chances. Van der Sar made a fine save from a low shot from Pires which in truth lacked power, while The Gunners were also alert at the back as Kolo Toure snuffed out a run from Cole and Patrick Vieira tracked back with relish to dispossess Radzinski near his own corner flag.

Vieira was popping up in all areas of the pitch and he came within a whisker of connecting with a fine pass from Pires, while on 30 minutes he forced van der Sar into a superb low save with his left hand.

The second half mirrored the first, with Arsenal playing with a spring in their step, and Henry went close with a free kick from the edge of the box.

Pires thought he had put the game beyond doubt when finding his way beyond the Fulham defence, but van der Sar was his equal. Fulham took an hour to conjure up a chance, but Collins John's effort was hardly worthy of the name.

Manuel Almunia could have been forgiven for being cold, but he made an important save on 64 minutes, as he came off his line at pace to smother Radzinski's shot before it had time to get over him.

Pires was at the heart of Arsenal's positive play and he teed up Henry who fired in a fizzing drive which crashed to safety off the post.

Arsenal were not frustrated at not killing the game off earlier and their perseverance was rewarded 20 minutes from time when Pires got the goal his performance deserved.

Dennis Bergkamp found the ball at his feet six yards out and he unselfishly squared the ball to Pires and he slotted the ball past van der Sar to secure a deserved three points for The Gunners.